Bonded to My Ex's Alpha Brother Chapter 151

Erin's POV

The wine tasted bitter on my tongue as I twirled the glass between my fingers. Across from me, Alpha Ethan was mid-sentence when his eyes darted to something behind me, his expression shifting from relaxed to alert.

"If you want to leave, now's your chance," he warned in a low voice. "I'd rather not see you die at his hands."

I didn't need to turn around to know who had entered the restaurant. The sudden silence, the shift in the air, the prickle on the back of my neck—my body knew he was here before my mind could catch up. I took another sip of wine, forcing my hand to remain steady.

"I don't care," I replied, keeping my voice flat and disinterested.

But I did care. My heart was hammering against my ribs, and I could feel sweat forming on my palms. I'd spent a year preparing for this moment, training myself not to react, teaching my body not to betray me when I inevitably faced him again.

"Erin?" My brother's voice, tight with disbelief and fear.

I finished my wine deliberately before standing up. When I turned, he was there—Derek Stone, Alpha of the Darkwood Pack, my former boss, my soul bond. He stood just feet away, his tall frame imposing in his perfectly tailored suit. My chest constricted painfully, but I kept my face neutral, my expression controlled.

For a year, I've trained myself to control my emotions. So I wouldn't break down when we met again. I would never let you see my weakness again.

"Erin, what are you doing here?" Aaron demanded, stepping toward me.

I raised an eyebrow at my brother, grateful for the momentary distraction. "Why shouldn't I be here, brother?" I kept my voice cool, detached, while my fingers tightened around my purse strap.

Derek removed his sunglasses, and his steel-gray eyes locked onto mine. That unwanted connection flared between us—the soul bond that had ruined my life. I felt the familiar pull, the magnetic draw that I'd been fighting since the day we met. I set my jaw and stared back, refusing to be the first to look away.

"Miss Blackwood," he said, his voice deep and controlled, "may I ask what you and Alpha Ethan are doing here?"

The formal address stung more than it should have. I swallowed hard, fighting against the tremor that threatened to enter my voice. "I wasn't aware that an Alpha had the right to question others' private affairs."

Aaron grabbed my arm, his fingers digging into my skin. "You can't speak to the Alpha like that. What are you doing here?"

I shook off his hand with more force than necessary. "Brother, please. I'm not a child who needs to report her whereabouts to you and mother at all times." The words came out sharper than I intended, my composure slipping.

"We suspect you've been leaking Stone Group information to help Alpha Ethan win this project," Beta Tom accused.

"Show me your evidence," I challenged, my voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through me. "Do you have any proof at all?"

I shot Ethan a warning glance, silently begging him to play along. He nodded almost imperceptibly.

"She's right," Ethan said, stepping to my side. "Why are you all suspecting her? Alpha Derek, you've got the wrong person."

I forced myself to look directly at Derek again. His face was impassive, but I knew him well enough to see the signs of anger—the slight tightening around his eyes, the barely perceptible clench of his jaw. "Alpha Derek, if you wish to punish me without evidence, I'll have to accept that. But interrupting someone's private time without cause is discourteous."

His jaw tightened visibly. "Private time?" he repeated, the words coming through clenched teeth.

"Actually, I'm here on a date with Alpha Ethan," I declared, watching Derek's face for his reaction. "But your arrival has disturbed us."

Ethan caught on immediately, reaching for my hand. "Erin, we can always schedule a second date."

Derek's eyes flicked to our joined hands. I saw his fingers twitch slightly at his side. He was angry, very angry, but controlling it. Good. I wanted him to feel something, anything, after what he'd put me through.

I gathered my purse, preparing to leave. My legs felt unsteady, but I refused to show any weakness. "I'll be going now, brother," I said to Aaron.

Then I turned to Derek, summoning every ounce of coldness I could muster. "By the way, Alpha, since everyone in the pack knows how much you adore your fiancée, perhaps you should bring Mya here for dinner sometime. I hear this restaurant is known for its romantic atmosphere for couples."

A bitter sense of triumph mixed with the constant ache in my chest.

"Have a nice day, Alpha," I added, the formal words at odds with the hostility I knew was visible in my eyes.

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Derek's POV

I watched her walk away, her back straight, her head high. She had changed completely in the year since I'd seen her last. The transformation was remarkable—and concerning.

After she left, I moved to the balcony area, needing a moment to collect my thoughts. Her wine glass sat abandoned on the table, a trace of lipstick on the rim. I found myself staring at it, recalling the shy, eager-to-please girl who had worked as my secretary, and comparing her to the confident, defiant woman who had just walked out.

"Aaron," I commanded, "come with me."

In the privacy of my car, Aaron's composure crumbled. "Alpha, she's young and impulsive. Please forgive her."

I laughed, the sound short and humorless. "Forgive? Forgive what? Repeatedly leaking Stone Group's business secrets to competitors?"

"As your pack enforcer, I can only apologize on behalf of my sister," Aaron pleaded. "I'll handle this. Please don't punish her."

I stared out the window, watching the city pass by. "Your sister is no longer the person she once was. She's completely changed."

"Alpha, please—"

"I enjoy punishment," I interrupted, my voice soft. "People I want to punish. The only punishment right now is banishment."

Aaron's face paled dramatically. "Alpha, please..."

I hardened my expression. "Close all Darkwood Pack borders. No entry for Alpha Ethan or any of his members."

Under my breath, I added, "He dared to touch my enforcer's sister. How could I let that pass?"

It wasn't the whole truth. The sight of Ethan holding Erin's hand had triggered something primal in me, something I wasn't ready to acknowledge.

Later, in my office, my officials questioned the border closure.

"What? Alpha, are you really closing all borders to the Ridgeclaw Pack?" Beta Tom asked. "Alpha, you've never made such a decision before."

"Alpha, what's happened? Or are you planning something we're completely unaware of?" Delta Mark added.

I kept my expression neutral. "Focus on your work. Don't question my decisions."

After the others left, Aaron remained. "Alpha," he began hesitantly, "when will you dissolve the soul bond with my sister?"

The question hit a nerve. The soul bond—that unwanted connection that had complicated both our lives. I'd been trying to find a way to break it for the past year, without success.

"The night..." I finally said, my voice low. "The Verdant Forest Pack is hosting a gathering next week. I'll discuss the soul bond after that event."

Relief flooded Aaron's face. "Thank you, Alpha. I hope she'll recover. I promise I'll talk to her about what she's doing now."

I gestured toward the door. "Return to Darkwood Estate and continue your duties."

After Aaron left, I stared out the window, lighting a cigar as I contemplated the day's events. The image of Erin kept returning to my mind—her cold eyes, her confident stance, the way she'd looked at me with such open hatred.

That evening, as my secretary updated me on my schedule, I found my thoughts still on Erin.

"Alpha, there are no more meetings today," my secretary informed me. "However, you have dinner with Miss Windsor in an hour."

I nodded, recalling how Erin had gained my trust and learned company secrets—and how she had used that trust against me. Or had she? We still had no concrete evidence, only suspicions.

Tom entered after my secretary left. "How are you feeling?" he asked, then added more directly, "But how could you let her walk away so easily?"

"What's wrong with how I'm feeling?" I countered, keeping my expression neutral.

"If she continues like this, Stone Group will become a laughingstock. What about the losses?"

"Who's bearing all the losses? The company or me?" My voice remained calm, but there was an edge to it.

"That woman will cost you everything you've earned over the years," Tom warned. "But why? Can you explain that?"

I glanced at my watch, effectively ending the conversation. "I have a dinner to attend in an hour."

Tom persisted, his voice dropping lower. "Alpha, is letting her go really because there's no evidence? Or is it because she's your soul bond?"

I didn't answer. I couldn't answer. Because the truth was, I didn't know myself.